Donor Looks Back at Loss and Forward to Promise

"I always hold the San Francisco AIDS Foundation up as a model to other organizations as one that 'gets it right,'" says Jim Greene, a long-time SFAF donor who first became acquainted with the HIV epidemic when it was still referred to as "gay-related immune deficiency," or GRID. Jim's first encounter with the crisis came when his good friend Bob flew cross-country to tell Jim that he had GRID. Bob was certain that Jim must have it too, and that soon, they were both going to die.

Fortunately for Jim Greene, he was not infected with HIV. More than 20 years later, he continues to test negative. Through closely following Bob's journey throughout his illness up to his death from AIDS, Jim became a resource for SFAF. "Through the support of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Bob received the medications he needed during his illness and was able to die with dignity," he says.

A member of the Leadership Circle, Jim Greene is particularly interested in SFAF's role as an advocate for people living with HIV: "SFAF is doing a good job working with both political parties, on a local, state and federal level. The Foundation maintains that what goes on in the global community affects what is happening in San Francisco, and that the reverse is true as well." Jim also appreciates SFAF's Gestalt approach to the epidemic, as evidenced by the The Speed Project, which is making real inroads into ending the epidemic by reaching diverse at-risk populations.